Dentist Salary in Canada | Breakdown by Province

In Canada, the median wage for dentists is $110,000 per year.

Dentists in Canada: job prospects, employment requirements, licensing.

Dentists in Canada, classified under NOC 31110, diagnose, treat, prevent and control disorders of the teeth and mouth while working in private practice, hospitals, clinics, public health facilities or universities. Approximately 21,400 people worked in this occupation in 2023, with 42 percent aged 50 and over and a median retirement age of 63. Job prospects show a strong risk of labour shortage nationally through 2033, with about 15,000 projected job openings substantially exceeding the expected 8,500 job seekers, driven by employment growth above the national average and significant replacement demand from retirements.

Median annual earnings stand at about 110,000 Canadian dollars nationally, with actual incomes varying widely often reaching 200,000 to 300,000 dollars or more for established practitioners in private practice depending on location, specialization, patient volume and business ownership. Most positions require a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, successful completion of national licensing examinations, and provincial registration, with work conditions generally involving full-time hours in clean, well-equipped clinical settings that may include evenings or Saturdays to suit patient needs, along with precise manual dexterity, patient interaction, and adherence to infection control and radiation safety standards.

Licensing

Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories for this occupation.

Other Health Occupations: Anesthesiologist, Family Doctor, Dental Hygienist

DENTIST (NOC 31110)
2025	Wages/yr
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	32,867	110,000	228,000
Newfoundland & L	N/A	180,000	N/A
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nova Scotia	N/A	126,000	N/A
New Brunswick	N/A	132,000	N/A
Quebec	34,137	106,000	228,000
Ontario	37,561	104,000	210,000
Manitoba	N/A	116,000	N/A
Saskatchewan	N/A	110,000	N/A
Alberta	32,867	120,000	270,000
British Columbia	37,929	84,000	214,000
Yukon Territory	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2026

 

In 2017, salaries for dentists didn’t change.

DENTISTS (NOC 3113-A)
2017	Wages ($/yr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	39,061	119,595	262,513
Manitoba	44,914	120,265	337,472
Saskatchewan	39,424	126,567	292,183
Alberta	65,561	124,677	279,705
Québec	40,599	121,233	276,297
Ontario	45,415	121,251	261,709
British Columbia	24,155	84,991	179,832
New Brunswick	N/A	N/A	N/A
Newfoundland & L	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nova Scotia	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. September 2017*

According to Canada’s Job Bank, in 2016, the median wage for dentists in Canada was $119,595/year.

Dentists in Manitoba reported the highest salaries.

DENTISTS (NOC 3113-A)
2016	Wages ($/yr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	39,061	119,595	262,513
Manitoba	44,914	120,265	337,472
Saskatchewan	39,424	126,567	292,183
Alberta	65,561	124,677	279,705
Québec	40,599	121,233	276,297
Ontario	45,415	121,251	261,709
British Columbia	24,155	84,991	179,832
New Brunswick	N/A	N/A	N/A
Newfoundland & L	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nova Scotia	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.

 

DENTIST SALARY IN CANADA (2017)